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The People section of this site deals primarily with information on the Headquarters Company, 6th Tank Destroyer Group.  All the information and photos have some connection with the unit and is the result of many years of research.  Most of the photos were either brought home by my father after the war or they have come from the family of one of the men in the unit.  The rest of the photos have been gathered from the web or some other resource.  The same goes for the articles and written text.  Please remember that this is a work in progress.  If you have additional information on the unit or you find an error, please contact me.

The last section is dedicated to men that served in any other tank destroyer unit.  If you are related to or know someone that served in a tank destroyer unit and would like to honor them, please send me a photo or photos of them along with information on the unit they served in, please contact me and I will be happy include the info in the Honorees section of this site.  Information about their life before and after the war would also be welcome. All materials can be emailed
to me directly using the This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it address.  You can also send items by mail using the address shown in the Contact section of this site.

The items shown below are the newest articles to be added to this section of the site.  Use the side navigation bar to see the entire list for each group.
DePasquale, Anthony B. (692nd)
Honorees

Anthony-DePasquale-1Anthony B. DePasquale (Anthony Patsy)

Biography: Anthony (Tony) Bruno DePasquale, was born on October 3, 1922, in Point Marion, PA. He was the son of Giovanni Batista DePasquale and Octavia Maria Merclie and graduated in 1940, from Point Marion High School. Tony began his career at the Houze Glass Factory, where he worked for 7 years. He started as a factory laborer, but left as a tradesman glass blower, making window glass. 

Service Time: Tony entered the service on January 20, 1943, and was assigned to the Reconnaissance Company, of the 692nd Tank Destroyer Battalion. He trained with the unit at Camp Hood, TX, and at Camp Phillips, KS. They then moved to Carthage Junction, TN, and participated in the Tennessee Maneuvers. The unit continued on to Camp Campbell, KY, and then to Camp Kilmer, NJ, for final processing, before shipment to Europe.

The 692nd entered action in October of 1944, as a towed TD battalion, but converted to M36s, just after the Battle of the Bulge in February of 1945. In addition to the Bulge, the unit was committed to fighting along the Siegfried Line and supporting the drive from the Roer to the Rhine river. They also helped in the capture of the cities of Cologne, Furth, and the Dachau Concentration Camp. Tony's duties included being a 50 cal. gunner and driver. The unit would go on to participate in three campaigns, including Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace and Central Europe. Tony received the American Theater Service Medal, EAME Medal, Good Conduct Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. Tony left the service at the rank of Pfc.

Honorable Discharge

When Tony returned to the states, he registered at Indiana State Teachers College, in Pennsylvania, where Tony received his BA in mathematics.  He did this, in only 2 ½ years, using the GI Bill. After graduating, he was not able to find work around his home town, so in 1952, he moved to Northern Virginia.  He was hired by the City of Falls Church school system, teaching Math, at George Mason High School. Tony also met his wife Nancy there, she happened to be the school librarian.  At the time of his death, the couple had been married for 57 years. He earned his Masters in Administration, from George Washington University.

Tony loved teaching, but being a school teacher did not meet the financial needs of his growing family, so he went to work at Melpar, which was a large company in Falls Church.  The company was later purchased by E-Systems and after 37 years, Tony retired as a Vice President. Tony said teaching was his hardest job, but the one he liked the most.   During his time with E-Systems, he worked for 19 years teaching night school for George Washington University, and retired as an Assistant Professor.

Anthony-DePasquale-2

 

Tony retired in 1994 at the age of 72 and he and Nancy traveled extensively throughout the world, with their last trip being to Costa Rica, in 2012. He passed away on April 26, 2013.

The second photo was taken at the opening of the World War II Memorial in 2004, when Tony was interviewed by NPR (National Public Radio), for their living history program. He was chosen because he was walking around the memorial in his original uniform!
Last Updated on Saturday, 08 June 2013 16:22
 
Strickland, John H. (705th)
Honorees

John-Strickland-1John H. Strickland, Jr.

Biography:  John Henry Strickland, Jr. was born on August 19, 1919 in Adele, Kentucky.  He was the son of John Henry Strickland and Mary Belle Sizemore and attended Adele Grade School.  He later worked as a truck driver for Inland Manufacturing located in Dayton, Ohio.  In October of 1936, John married Mary Marie Magoch in Richmond, Indiana.  Mary was the daughter of Joseph Magoch and Mary Marie Ripasi. Mary had been born in Ellis County Texas but the new couple made their home in Trotwood, Ohio.  John and Mary would have two children, James and Beverly.  John and Mary divorced in 1946. John would later marry Christine Chadwell and have four sons, John, David, Don and Phil.

Service Time:  John entered the service on May, 13, 1942, at Cincinnati, OH.  He was assigned to C Company, of the 705th Tank Destroyer Battalion and rose to the position of 2nd Platoon, TD Commander.  They landed at Utah Beach with M18 Tank Destroyers and turned west toward Brittany as part of Task Force A, in the Battle for Brest.  They assisted in operations on the Crozon Peninsula before turning east and moving across France.  By November of 1944, They had reached the border of Germany and shifted North to Aachen and then to Bastogne, where they played a major role in its defense.  The 705th continued their successes in the drive to the Rhine River in March of 1945 and on to Oppenhein to Bayreuth and then into Austria by May.

The unit and John participated in five campaigns, including Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, the Ardennes and Central Europe. John received the EAME Medal, the Good Conduct medal and the Distinguished Unit Badge for the 705th's participation in the defense of Bastogne.  John left the service at the rank of Staff Sergeant.

John returned to Ohio to work as a farmer and as plant security for Inland Manufacturing in Dayton, OH.  In his spare time, he enjoyed hunting and fishing.  He was also a member of the Masonic Lodge and the Order of the Eastern Star.  John passed away in December of 1986.  He was buried in Corbin, Kentucky.

I want to thank John's son Jim for providing the photo and information about his dad.
Last Updated on Wednesday, 01 May 2013 10:30
 
McCoy, Harry M. (802nd)
Honorees

Harry-M.-McCoy-1Harry M. McCoy

Biography:  Harry Milton McCoy was born on October 4, 1923, in Baudette, Minnesota.  He is the son of Charles A. McCoy and Esther E. Davison and left home at the age of 14, to find work.  When Pearl Harbor was bombed, Harry was working at the Naval shipyards in California.

Service Time:  Harry entered the service and was trained at Fort Hood, TX, before shipping overseas and landing on French shores and Omaha Beach, on D-Day plus 9.  He was assigned to Company C, of the 802nd Tank Destroyer Battalion, who landed on July 1, 1944, with towed 3" guns. They would see action 3 days later, at Carentan. Harry served as a TD Commander for the unit.

The 802nd joined the attack on St. Malo and then traveled east into Luxembourg, where they supported operations against the Siegfried Line. The unit participated in the Battle of the Bulge in late December, before converting to M36s, in February and March of 1945.  They then moved farther east, crossing the Rhine and joined the fighting to eliminate the Ruhr Pocket, before taking up occupational duties.  Harry was in Germany for 6 months after the war ended and then returned to the states to muster out at Camp McCoy, in Wisconsin.

Harry would make his residence in Motley, Minnesota, and marry the former Neva M. Benson, on November 15, 1946.  She was the daughter of Rollin K. Benson and Ada Estelle Winslow and had been born in Norfolk, Nebraska. Harry worked as a dairy farmer and beef rancher, which filled his days with hard work.  He did take time to start a family, having a son, Rex and a daughter, Jeanne.  He is also a member of the National Farmers Association, the VFW, American Legion and Lions Club of Leader, MN. 

Harry-M.McCoy-2


The photo on left was taken on April 17th, 2013 at the presentation of a Quilt of Valor from the Quilts of Valor Foundation.

I want to thank Harry's daughter Jeanne for supplying the photos and information about her father.

Last Updated on Monday, 13 May 2013 10:45
 
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